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Fruit Bats is an American folk rock band originally from Chicago, but now based in Seattle.

Fruit Bats were formed in 1999 by guitarist, pianist and singer Eric Johnson, the band's main songwriter and only constant member. Originally part of short-lived Chicago group I Rowboat, Johnson and two of his fellow Rowboat members, guitarist Dan Strack and drummer Brian Belval, created Fruit Bats as a side-project.

When I Rowboat split up, Fruit Bats became Johnson's main focus. Spurred on by Califone/Perishable Records honchos Tim Rutili and Ben Massarella, the group recorded their first album, Echolocation, released in 2001.

After tours with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Modest Mouse and The Shins, Fruit Bats signed with Sub Pop in late summer 2002, recording their second album, 2003s Mouthfuls.

The group released their third album, Spelled in Bones, in 2005. Their fourth album The Ruminant Band was released on August 4, 2009.^[1]

Eric Johnson has now joined The Shins, though according to their web site, he plans to continue working with the Fruit Bats.

In an interview with Reverb Magazine's Nick Milligan (Australia), Eric Johnson has said of The Ruminant Band:

"I shouldn’t say I had any strong ideas about how I wanted [The Ruminant Band] to differ from our other records, but I knew that I definitely wanted it to. Previously, when I did those other albums, I think I set rules for myself. This time I didn’t try to go by the book so much. I also let the other [band members] play, rather than me being in charge. I played very little on this record – I wrote the songs and the vocal arrangements, and played some piano, but for the most part everything else is the band. That trust is something that comes with time. I had four years to sit and think about it. It can get lonely when you’re doing the – quote unquote – solo thing. My band is really talented, so I wanted their voices to be heard.” - Eric Johnson, Reverb Magazine Interview, August 4, 2009.

Their song Primitive Man was chosen as the Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week for December 22, 2009.^[2]

Discography

Albums

• Echolocation (2001)
• Mouthfuls (2003)
• Spelled in Bones (2005)
• The Ruminant Band (2009)

References

1. ^ Sub Pop Records site
2. ^ http://www.mark-heringer.com/2009/12/starbucks-itunes-pick-of-week-fruit.html

• Official Fruit Bats website
• Fruit Bats history at SubPop
• 2008 Fruit Bats Interview at Bandega.com

External links

• Interview with Centerstage Chicago (December 2006)